Judge likely to begin contempt proceedings against government over deportation flights

A federal judge said Thursday there's a "fair likelihood" that the Trump administration violated his order to turn around two planes carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members, and suggested he could move to hold the government in contempt of court.

D.C. Chief District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the deportations of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 last month, said it was possible the government "acted in bad faith" by not rerouting the planes to the U.S. Instead, the flights continued to El Salvador, where over 200 Venezuelan nationals were transferred to a supermax prison.

Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order that pauses the deportations under the act but still allows the Trump administration to detain alleged Tren de Aragua gang members. Boasberg's order also does not prevent the government from deporting the alleged gang members or others under other existing immigration laws.